Kenyan CEO Exposes Illegal Detention, Torture, and Challenges to East African Cooperation

Kenya: CEO Hussein Khalid Details Illegal Deportation and Torture, Questioning East African Cooperation Agreement Nairobi, Kenya – Hussein Khalid, CEO of VOCAL Africa, a prominent human rights organization, has recounted his experience of illegal detention and torture, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the East African Cooperation Agreement. In an interview on Spice FM's The Situation Room, Khalid described the ordeal, emphasizing the lack of explanation for his deportation. "Even if an explanation had been given for the torture, it wouldn't have made the situation better—but at least we would understand that something was wrong. Right now, the first thing we want to know is: why were we deported?" he stated. Khalid highlighted the core objective of the East African Cooperation Agreement, which is to facilitate the free movement of people and goods across borders. He questioned how his deportation could occur under such an agreement. The interview sheds light on the urgent need for transparency and accountability in addressing human rights violations within the East African region. Khalid's account serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by human rights defenders and the importance of regional cooperation in upholding fundamental rights.